Significantly improved optical OFDM transmission performances with 10dB reduced optical input powers by quantum dot SOA intensity modulators

In comparison with conventional semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) intensity modulators in intensity modulation and direct detection (IMDD) passive optical network (PON) systems, quantum dot SOA intensity modulators can considerably improve the transmission performance of optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) signals, broaden the optimum operating condition ranges, and allows a 10dB reduction in continuous (CW) optical input power injected into the modulators for achieving signal bit rates more than 30Gb/s over 60km single mode fibers (SMFs).